A Witness of the LIGHT

Oil Painting by Jeff Johnson

As I was thinking about a name for a painting, “A Witness of Light” came to mind.

I have seen the Light of men. I have seen Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Matthew 6 says those with a pure heart will see God.   I saw Jesus in a vision and the effects of seeing Him instantaneously changed what was going on inside of me.  I went from discouragement to joy, the instant Jesus smiled at me. The Creator smiled…

You know Jesus doesn’t even have to say a word- for He has said and paid for everything for us with his blood and resurrection.  Jesus smiled and like a gate of goodness pouring forth- my discouragement left me and I began to laugh.  

Sounds insane?  I think for the most part -wonders are insane.  They can’t be explained.  The world loves to explain things away that it can’t understand but God doesn’t fit in the confines of human wisdom and understanding.

I have seen the Light of men and women on several occasions so I don’t have the excuse, defense, reasoning for not believing in Jesus Christ.  But in saying this--- I do not share this for my benefit (though my soul has benefited greatly from what no human eye has seen) but I share for the benefit of you! Yes you!

I share with those who haven’t seen.  I share with those who haven’t believed.  I share with you that you may believe in my testimony and turn to Jesus and believe in Him as your Lord and Savior and He may come and live within.

Jesus says we are Christians are the light of the world --not because we are the Light but because we have the Spirit, the flame of God, living within us.

“John was not the Light, but came to testify about the Light.” John 1:8

We, just like John, are testifiers of God….

Jesus said, “While you have the Light, believe and trust in the Light [have faith in it, hold on to it, rely on it], so that you may become sons of Light [being filled with Light as followers of God].”  Jesus said these things, and then He left and hid Himself from them.  John 12:36 AMP

We are individuals, where we do what John 12:36 say – Our souls inside these earthen vessels are being empowered and clothed with God’s glorious light.  Our soul is the only thing we take with us when we leave this earth- - our bodies will turn to dust and join the earth.  So we must… invest our soul in what is everlasting- The Everlasting God who clothes our soul with His Everlasting Spirit… the mysterious glory of God.  The Spirit of God that the world isn’t looking for…

Jesus speaks of a time when we enter heaven but the only ones allowed in heaven are the ones who have the Spirit of God living in them.  Their soul, no longer clothed with the flesh of this world is clothed with the Spirit of God-- and the only one to give the Spirit of God to us all is Jesus Christ- in whom we need to place our faith.

Jesus said, “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of my message] will not continue to live in darkness.” John 12:46 AMP

Jesus also said, “But whoever practices truth [and does what is right—morally, ethically, spiritually] comes to the Light, so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are –accomplished in God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence on Him].” John 3:21 AMP

We are prompted by God’s Spirit to live life beyond the constraints of our often frustrating faulty human understanding.  That we may be testifiers of God’s goodness because we have experienced it and rely on it daily…

In a dream I was on a double-decker bus.  I was up on the top deck with no rails or no real seats… We headed up this steep mountain slope.  There was a steep drop off on one side of the bus and steep cliff on the other…. The bus swerved back and forth as it rolled up this snaking slope.  The bus driver drove fast around the curves and it felt as if the bus would tip.   I thought, “What is the bus driver thinking driving this fast on this narrow road?  Someone is going to fall off the edge.”

Seeing a child next to me I instinctively held tight on to him until we reached a white city with breathing pools of water.

It was then I saw all my fretting was for not.  

Sometimes in this narrow snaking road of life we think, “What is God thinking?”

During those times we must hold onto our childlike faith- seeing God, full of goodness, has everything under control- so fret not.  Doing this will help us continue to be testifiers of the LIGHT living within us.

 

What Does God Say About Authority

Authority

  

Recently I listened to some of the recent press conference President Trump held and found it surprisingly refreshing.  He wasn’t ranting and raving like the mainstream media was trying to make him out to be… it was all done in good but honest humor.

I also got to listen to Israel’s Prime minister and Trump's recent sentiments to each other and appreciated their open genuine support for one another- for we know the bible says, “A nation that blesses Israel will be blessed”.  

We have seen throughout history to now, many have tried to make it their so-called role to have control through various ways of manipulation.  We have seen political parties (foreign and domestic), senators, gangsters, thugs, religious fanatics, mainstream and social medias and even in past church history try to take the role of “authority” only to have foolish and even disastrous results.

I don’t agree with all of Malcolm X’s sentiments but this I do agree with,

“This is the press, an irresponsible press.  It will make the criminal look like he's the victim and make the victim look like he's the criminal. If you aren't careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

 Just because the mainstream and social media have framed up someone to look and sound a certain way- that we don’t politically agree with- doesn’t mean it is true. 

I find people hate people, out of sure lies and they are too quick to love the words of people who are telling lies…

They trust sources they shouldn’t trust…. But maybe they just don’t care… they have such a dislike and bias for such individuals -that they don’t care if they are lies or not- if it sounds/looks “good” then why not spread the smelly phony baloney.  I hate baloney. I love truth, what is right, justice... and pepperoni. :)

Logic tells us a partial truth is not the truth at all but a lie…   You know who is a master at telling partial truths? Satan… and one of his names is “The father of all lies”. John 8:44

People who practice lies are following in the steps of the Devil.  They are a follower of darkness.  Do you want to be a follower of darkness?    

Distinguishing You?

God and I had a little sit down the last week over the word… “Authority.”

We all know authority is to “Let” someone or something have authority over you. 

In the Christian life we (LET) submit to God, that we can live beyond the natural tendencies to live in the liberating life giving spiritual disposition/character/ temperament of the Spirit of God.

We will either let the fallen world and the flesh manipulate us- where we become a slave to darkness or we can be “yoked to” (LET) God… where we become co-workers with God/Christ Jesus.  This is not only beneficial to persist, endure and persevere but required, vital, and mandatory.         

 Jesus’ beloved disciple writes, “Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.  By this the children of God and the children of the devil are distinguished: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:10

One cannot be faithful without God for he/she without God produces the things of death by what pours forth and is produced by his/her mouth and actions.  For sin results in death and we are only redeemed, saved, released from sin by our faith in Jesus Christ who took upon our sin on the cross that we may have life and eternal life in heaven.  Faith is relationship not religion.

By Jesus’ holy innocent blood, He is Savior, Lord, King.  He has been “authority” over every soul who wants to turn to Him and be free eternal damnation and Satan, the god of this world.  Matthew 28:18

The Apostle Paul writes, “If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people are perishing.  Satan, who is the good of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.  They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.  They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”  2 Corinthians 4:3-5

In Whose likeness are we being created in as we mature in Christ?  Did man create man out of the dust of the earth?  Could man ever put the Spirit of God in himself?  No.  We know it was only by God who did these things. 

Who defines us?  Who do we submit to define us?  Who are you giving authority to define you?

Unseen Authority and Seen Authority

If one can’t submit to a seen authority, how can one submit to an unseen authority?

There are people like myself who believe in these words, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God” Romans 13:1

Can you imagine in a world of people who didn’t believe in these words?  I believe without God’s people living in the Spirit of God, earth would be very different place filled with anarchy.

When President Trump became President the Lord said to me, “Be cautiously optimistic but prayerful.”

To me this meant to have “gratitude” but continually petition God in prayer for our leaders.

Trump is not the fixer of our nation, and I don’t mean that in any negative sense… but we need to see the LORD as the one who needs to direct our hearts as well as our President’s heart…

 For the Word says, “In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.” 

1 Timothy 2:1-3 says “First of all, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions  and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,”

All need to see God has “established” Trump as President and to not see this- goes against what God has established... you are no longer fighting a man but God.

“It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.” Daniel 2:21

President Day is truly a day, as a nation under God, to pray for our President that God's good, pleasing and perfect will to be done.  Amen.

The Prodigals

Who waits on the porch looking up the driveway?
Who waits sitting up at the kitchen table?
Who waits by the telephone?
Who waits looking out the window?

Who prays?
Whose heart is heavy?
Who paces the floor?

Who smells the clothes left behind?
Who looks at the pictures of better times?
Who rereads the cards and notes and letters?

The prodigals have left, they have gone into the world, looking else where, only to enter an empty dark house filled with stupid possessions that mean nothing.  They know their soul lacks and you can tell it by what comes of their mouth and actions.

For once they ate from the table of their Heavenly Father.  They had plenty but now they live as if they never knew the Heavenly Father.

The Heavenly Father awaits for them....

"Come home my son. Come home my daughter."

"Don't worry about your brothers or sisters.  Come home.  I do not think any more or less of them as I do of you.  This they should know as well."

"Come and sit at my table once again.  Share a meal.  I want to listen and talk with to you.  Come and stay... find what you have been missing.  Come.  Remember there has been more then enough."

"It has been a long time.  It has been too long but my love is still the same as when I first created you.  I love you with an everlasting love.  Oh I knew the way in which you would take but I hope you hear me now..."    

"Come home my son."
"Come home my daughter."

"Let us start afresh and new."

"Love your
Heavenly Father."

Preeminent

Webster dictionary wrote this about the word "preeminent ".

"What is noteworthy about the following sentence? "Mount McKinley is a prominent eminence in the Alaskan landscape." You very likely recognized two words that are closely related to "preeminent" - "prominent" and "eminence." All three words are rooted in the Latin verb stem -minēre, meaning "to stand out." But did you note as well the related word mount? Not too surprisingly, "-minēre" is related to "mons," the Latin word for "mountain." That relationship leads us in turn to "paramount," a word closely related in meaning to 'preeminent.'"

—The mountains in the Pacific Northwest are the head of the landscape- well on a sunny day.

Everything from ski parks, cabins, houses, lakes, highway overpasses, forests, wildlife refuges, and the sprawling picnic blankets of the cities sit below the the beautiful but need to be respected mountains. They reach the heavens and bring fresh water and life to the streams and rivers.  They bring enjoyment, recreation and relaxation, wonder, and peace to those who wander their parks and trails... Jesus Christ, God, is the "Mountain" of our life.

As I think about this I think how people who live in the Pacific Northwest can ignore the mountain... Baker, Adams, Rainer, Pilchuck (lol), Helens, Olympus... they drive by them everyday not always admiring their beauty and what they provide...

Then I think about Jesus Christ and how we can ignore Him the Mountain and not see all He provides.  How he should be admired and respected. How in Him is life and that life comes as we make him preeminent in our daily lives. Think about....

Who To Trust?

In Christianity we are told to love people but not trust them.  We are shown it is not good to trust our fellow brother or sister in Christ- for we could easily elevate them to a place where only God belongs.  Who hasn't learned the hard way and witnessed the "fall" or "hurt" from Christians who we thought we could trust? 

Some might ask, “Well if you love someone, don’t you trust them?” 

A parent my love a son or daughter, who steals from them, but doesn’t mean they have to trust them.

God’s word is a safe guard for our soul- God knew if we place our trust in mere humans it could be disastrous to our faith.

Have you ever thought where bias, partiality, unfairness, preconceived notions, favoritism stem from?  It comes from placing faith in people not God.

Why is justice portrayed as a woman with a sword in one hand, a scale dangling from her other hand and a blindfold covering her eyes?  She looks to the unseen God not the biases of society.

Justice only is justice if it uses the wisdom of God.  Justice becomes a joke when it is polluted by a society that doesn't fear God.  

Proverbs 1:7 says,  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Jesus told us, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6

You treasure liberty, the pursuit of happiness, truth, and justice?

Who do entrust those things to protect, honor, and keep?  If it is humans and especially humans that don't fear God then you and I have a real problem.

We can point our blaming finger all we want for the unrest and failure in the United States and the world but it will mean nothing if we don't first take the log out of our own eye.   We must sincerely ask if we are truly seeing clearly? Are we getting all the facts or are we just listening and going along with men and women because they sound agreeable, because they are the "media", because they hold some position, degree and so on?   Are we in line with God's word and using Godly wisdom to protect and guard what we are truly to treasure?  Who are you entrusting your eternal soul too?

Consider the climate of the world today.  Where is the wisdom?  I will tell you where she is … she is calling from the streets and pleading for people to listen to her but no one is listening.  One day she will laugh in our face, have no sympathy at our demise because we chose not to listen to her… (If you don’t believe me look it up in the bible in the book of Proverbs.) People would rather listen to the media, college professors, political party, social organization, themselves then to God’s wisdom.

When a nation or people turns away from God and look upon it’s own faulty understanding and make it god – we have mess.   People start to believe whatever suits them about God.  They believe whatever they want about God’s people? Deplorable? Really? Do you even know what the word means?

God is not a salad bar or a buffet dinner where we get to pick and decide what we want to believe of God.   A god we have made up in our mind is a false god and a false god does not save our soul.

Because people trust the opinions of man and don’t trust God- people believe in sin… sin becomes rampant and sin separates people from God.  Nations become a mess and the dogs and swine of this world have their way.  A house against its self will fall but a people that look jointly to God are like strong pillars in time of trouble. They don't stand, rest or trust in man but stand, rest and trust in God... where true wisdom and life come from.

“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than trust in people.” Psalm 118:8

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.  For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5-7

“Don’t put your trust in mere humans.  They are as frail as breath.  What good are they?” Isaiah 2:22

“But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature.” John 2:24

No wonder why our founding fathers believed in God’s truth and principles and created a nation upon them… for without them a nation we have known would have never come into being... for what was seemingly impossible became possible because they didn’t trust in the opinions or tactics of man but choose to be in nation under God.  They walked by faith not by sight. 

What a picture this should be in our hearts as Christians.  it is not just a picture of the future but can be our lives now….

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Trust not in man but in God.